Dems losing (but gaining) in absentee-ballot war

Florida Republicans are, as usual, beating Democrats in absentee ballot requests, accounting for about half of the 1.26m ballots. The Dems have requested 441k and independents 186k.

But credit the Barack Obama camp and Dems for finding this angle: Last election cycle, Republican absentee ballot requests accounted accounted for 55 percent of all requests, rather than just half. Still, GOP voters have asked for double the number of ballots now - 637k - and elections aren't won by percentages but by raw votes.

The counterpoint: Democratic registration gains are giving Republicans the willies. And the Dems are about to shift their full attention to absentee ballots after new-voter registration ends Oct. 6.